Full Coverage: Children

29.02.2008 Two studies by the Urban Health Resource Centre talk of maternal and newborn care among the poor in central India and state of urban health in the national capital. Apart from highlighting the need for better access to healthcare facilities, the reports underline the cultural factors and prevalence of poverty as obstacles.

28.02.2008 Hundreds of children who had witnessed a blast in AfghanistanÂ’s Baghlan city last November are still traumatised, suffering from paranoia, dizziness, stress and sleeping disorders. Health experts are of the view that children in the conflict-affected country are at risk of suffering deep scars of war.

27.02.2008 When a dalit widow was appointed as cook in a government-run school in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, no one was ready to eat the food cooked and served by her. Everyone conspired to sack her and saw to it that she was never reinstated.

26.02.2008 Amidst confirmed reports of childrenÂ’s involvement in violent activities in Nepal, the UNICEF and the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights have issued stern warning to all political parties. They say that the country must take steps to keep its children away from harm and respect child rights.

22.02.2008 With nearly 10 million children dying every year around the world, how does it matter even if GDP growth shoots up? Research reveals that the issue is not about inadequacy of resources among developing countries, but lack of effective policies that can translate economic growth into development outcomes for the poor.

22.02.2008 To boost its corporate social responsibility work, GAIL India Ltd has launched an e-Shiksha programme for rural children at some of its plants in north and central India. Started with an investment of INR 6.3 million, the mobile centres will have buses equipped with laptops to teach children computer basics in local languages.

19.02.2008 Child mortality cannot be divorced from broader political and socio-economic development, says a report by Save the Children, a UK-based organisation. The report argues that policy choices and efficient resource allocation are crucial to tackle the issue of child survival in developing countries.

19.02.2008 According to a new Wealth and Survival Index, India is one of the worst performers in cutting child mortality, given its national wealth. The new report by Save the Children UK says even the poorest of countries can attain child survival if they pursue the right policies.

18.02.2008 Pneumonia has taken epidemic proportions in Afghanistan, where over 170,000 patients have been diagnosed with the disease in past one month. Food insecurity, lack of awareness and unhygienic conditions are only adding to the problems of people, who are facing the harshest winter in many years.

15.02.2008 In many of the recent suicide attacks in Pakistan, children have been used as suicide bombers or fidayeens. According to a study done by a Lahore-based NGO, seminaries are indoctrinating impressionable minds with fanatical teachings.

13.02.2008 UNICEFÂ’s report: The State of the WorldÂ’s Children 2008, provides a comprehensive picture of the current state of child survival and primary health care for mothers. The report gives an assessment of factors affecting child health and outlines the approaches to reduce under-five mortality rate.

06.02.2008 Bachpan Bachao Andolan has rescued more than 80 children from factories located in old Delhi area of the capital city in two different raids. Despite laws banning child labour in India, it continues to thrive in sweatshops across the country.

04.02.2008 In a region where education for girls meant only deen ki taleem or religious studies, Vinod Kumar Kanathia had to struggle to teach the girls jeene ka saleeka (way of life). Starting with 25 students and five teachers, he now runs 95 educational centres for Muslim girls in Mewat region in north India.

04.02.2008 Heavy snowfall and unprecedented cold waves in Afghanistan have claimed at least 500 lives and cut off many villages from urban centres, leading to serious disruption of essential supplies. Given the magnitude of the problem, the government has expressed helplessness while assistance from NGOs is proving insufficient.

02.02.2008 Sri Lankan police has finally released UNICEFÂ’s impounded consignment of high protein biscuits meant for undernourished children and mothers in the conflict zone. The UN agencyÂ’s aid material had been confiscated earlier also on the suspicion that they would land in the hands of Tamil rebels.